As we wrap up Black History Month,
the work to learn more about its
meaning and the powerful stories,
it definitely doesn't stop.
In fact, many people believe it's important
to continue these conversations year round.
Joining me to talk more about why
this topic is so important for all
families as Doctor Stephanie Boyce,
the CEO of fresh classrooms.
Good morning, doctor Boyce.
How are you?
I'm great. Thank you so much
for having me this morning.
So only a few days left in Black
History Month and that's when
near the end of this month.
Why do you believe it's
important for people to?
Pay attention to the efforts to
disregard black history across
classrooms in America right now.
That's a great question.
It's so important because what we
see over and over again is that.
People's attempts at erasure when
it comes to black history is a
red flag for all of us, right?
We all know that black history is
American history and in some ways the
worst and the best parts of American history.
And so it's important for
us to safeguard that,
to make sure that the stories,
not just the historical concepts
and figureheads, right,
but to really understand what it
means in terms of our economic
striving and development,
political striving and development,
educational striving and development,
all these different facets and what they.
Actually mean for our country as a whole.
It's important for us to safeguard that
and make sure that our kids know so
that history does not repeat itself,
right?
That's something that we've always said.
So we have to be sure that we safeguard
those things until the truth about
what our country is so that we
can continue to see progress as a
country. And Doctor Boyce,
what kinds of things can
families do to continue that?
They're ensuring their children
are always learning about the
contributions and history of
blacks across the diaspora.
That's very important, I say for us,
I always like to consider.
Our homes are students first,
classrooms before they go to schools, right?
So no matter what's happening
in schools and libraries and
with legislation at your home,
you can make sure that you do things
like audit your kids library.
Does the library at your
home look like America?
Do we see diverse cultures
represented in the types of books
that your child is exposed to,
the types of movies that you're looking at,
the things that you bring into your home
and even looking at your local community,
how you celebrate and and even.
Support black-owned businesses in your area.
Does your child see you support these
businesses and do they understand the
positive images all around them and
how they all make up the diversity of
our country and how important that is?
And Doctor Boyce, tell us a little
bit about the work you're doing
with teachers in classrooms.
So the first classroom is acronym.
It stands for fun, relevant,
engaging standards based on higher order.
And so I traveled across the country.
I've had the great privilege of training
thousands of teachers on how to help
them connect better to the students that
they serve to make their classrooms.
More engaging and thereby seeing
student achievement improve.
And so that's really the gist of it,
is how do we look at students
interest their backgrounds
and instead of devaluing them,
find ways to connect to them in
ways that make our content feel
really relevant and fresh for kids?
You know, it's interesting that
this history topic has become
so controversial in communities
across the country right now.
What advice would you share with
educational leaders if they want
to ensure equitable learning
experiences in the classroom?
That's awesome question.
I would say for most educational leaders,
we got into this work because
we have a heart for kids, right?
We want to see the world be a better
place and all of these things that we say.
My advice is that they
always ground down into data.
Most of the time when they
disaggregate the data,
it will show them some of our
instructional practices are working
best for some students and not
working as good for other students.
If we change our framing around the
way we think about data in that way,
then I say as a leader,
what do I need to do?
To help my teachers get more tools
in their toolkit so that they
could be more effective with more
students the first time around
instead of trying to loop back around
and catch kids on the back end.
And so that's really my biggest advice.
Ground down into the data and be sure
that you allow everything that you do
at your campus to be rooted in that
data and not political partisanship
and things going on around us
and Doctor Boyce. Lastly, telling
you is how they can engage with you.
Find out more about you and the work you're
doing. Sure they can. Visit us at
www.thefreshclassroom.com for more.
Information about purchasing our book,
making donations we do,
teacher giveaways and classroom makeovers.
Anything about keeping teachers
fresh would go to Doctor Boyce.
Thank you so much for being here.
Thank you for having me. Morning.